Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-02-18
/ BEFORE THE WAR.

"Reminiscences Of Iouisiana in Old Slavery Times.
The code and laws OF Louisiana are
founded on the Code Napoleon and
that on the Code Justinian Of Rome,
and is more explicit and peculiar in
It's workings, than the laws of our 9TH
er States. During the year 1854, a
wealthy slave-trader, named Bolts, a
Virginian by birth, who lived in the
garden suburbs of New Orleans, and
who owned "a slave crawl on
Common street, was suddenly
stricken with apoplexy and died
without making a will. The law re-
quires that on the death Of any per-
son of wealth, more or less, the Judge
Of the District Court shall then ap-
point notary to take an inventory
OF the property, together with a cura-
tor, also an attorney to represent
absent heirs and two appraisers.
After performing the duties prescribed,
the document is signed by all the
parties and submitted to the Judge
for homologation. Judge Kennedy,
in the case ofBotts, appointed Edwin
F. notary, Tom Howard, attorney to
represent absent heirs, Mr.. Sewell
curator, and two young French Gre
oles appraisers. On receiving their
appointments the gentlemen in
question visited the office and
bank where Bolts had kept
his deposits and titles to slave
property, and then went in carriages
to the residence of the deceased, which
WAS on the outskirts Of the city. TWAS
nh elegant Southern, home embowered
in all the luxurious splendor ofshrub.
berry, or which Louisiana is known,
its whole aspect denoting opulence
and luxury. As the party aliehted they
were greeted with the sound Of religious
music, one of those magnificent
requiems for the dead, sung by two
female voices in Italian, and so pathet-
ic and soulful, that with one accord
these men stood bareheaded until it
was ended, then advancing to the
door they knocked and were admitted
by q lady, tall and commanding OF
figure, courteous and graceful, dressed
in deep mourning, who had such an
tonished that Bolts should have been
so fortunate as to have secured such
woman as his wife. The notary
briefly announced the business of the
party and they were Immediately ush-
cred into the spacious parlors. After
the house, ground, household furniture
and effects had been examined and
appraised the negro slaves were ad-
nliIted individually to the presence OF
the gentlemen and were examined,
valued and approved, according to
custom. The notary then announced
that their business was terminated,
on which the attorney for the absent
heirs, Mr.. Howard, who had been
talking aside with the curator. said
that he desised to question Mrs Bolts,
which, of course was his legal right
md duty. He asked: Are you Mrs.
Botts?" To which she replied with a
bow. Continuing his questions, ne
said: II don't want to distress
you, madam, but it is necessary
that you show me your marriage GER
titicate." At which the lady burst in
to an agony OF tears that effected even
those stern men Of law. Ignoring the
Indignation readable on the faces of
his associates,he continued: "On my
honor, madam, l have no wish to
wound Or pain yon, but simply have
duty to perform, and | must ask
you, Are you a, free woman of color?
and if SO, show me your free papers
and end this most terrible and un-
pleasant interview" There was no
reply to- this except renewed sobs and
almost total abasement of the body
She wae not the wife OF MFR. Bolts,
nor had she had her free papers.
All the gentlemen withdrawing but
the notary, she told her history,
which was this: She was the daughter
Of a wealthy Virginia planter and had
been reared in luxury and sent to
France to complete her education.
On her return to her fathers house.
ignorant of her social status, she was
received as the honored daughter OF
an ancestral house. Her father, dying
OF paralysis, was unable to perform,
what he had promised her mother to
do-furnish the mother and their child
free papers and so left his unfortu-
nate family (slaves in fact and in law
to the mercy of his relatives, who
came forward apparently indignant
at the manner in which money had
been spent on "a negro family" and
both mother and daughter were sold
as slaves Bolts secured the daugh.
ter at the sale, and, becoming interest,
ed and enamored with her, promised!
to make her free if she would live with
him as his wife. She assented, simply
because she could do nothing else, the
result OF which I have shown on. The
situation was SO appalling and was so.
appreciated by the gentlemen appoint
ed by the court that, to the honor OF
the Judge, this lady was promptly
freed and sent North, with sufficient
money to make her comfortable be-
unr1